After the in-fighting that scarred Robert Mancini’s spell as boss, City captain Kompany pointedly described his replacement as a class act.

As City prepared for their first game in the Premier League’s Asia Cup here, Kompany said: “We’ve worked really hard this pre-season already. There is more to come.

“Everyone involved with the club knows we didn’t do enough last year. Sometimes you can just sense that this team is hungry. There’s a great group atmosphere.

“This is probably the sharpest I’ve seen the team in a long time. The results in the tour games in South Africa probably didn’t show it but that’s because we’ve been working so hard in training.

“There’s a certain flair to Pellegrini’s methods. He looks like a very decent human being. We’ve trained really hard and adapted to a new style. What’s he’s done so far he’s done it with a lot of class. For a group that wants to push itself, it’s a good thing. We’re hungry and we have to learn.”

“There’s a certain flair to Pellegrini’s methods”

Vincent Kompany

Pellegrini rejoined the City squad today after flying back to his native Chile last week following the death of his mother, just three months after his father passed away.

Kompany says the players and coaching staff will help him through his bereavement.

“It’s a family matter so, as for any of us, it’s a more important thing than football to deal with,” he added. “We’re a team. He’ll be coming back to the squad and the technical staff will be there to support him.”

Kompany is impressed by the quality of City’s four new signings – Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic.

He said: “You can tell that the homework has been done and we’ve brought in some really good players. Competition is key to how good our squad will be this season. The level and intensity of training has been extremely high.”